linkage difference?

[EXtreme-]

what is the difference between the 86-87 year shocks and/or linkage and why was is changed from the factory?

[hontrx265r]

I don't know the exact answer to your question, but I believe they changed it because of the different length swingarms. I don't think it was really a leverage ratio adj. or anything.

[Zedicus]

86-87 hav the same swingarm. i think there is a slight difference between the shocks on thouse yrs. i think the shock is a tad longer and the linkage is a tad shorter. or vise versa... its the 88-89 are the same as each other but differenet then the earlyer yrs... the later style is the shortest shock and the longest linkage... im fairly sure of that.

[250R-Dee]

The dogbone in the linkage is 1" longer on the '86-'87 setups.

[EXtreme-]

sooo...they are both equal in length and the shocks are identical? That doesn't make sense on service honda, as the part numbers for the 87-89 are identical on the dog bones and the 86 is all by itself.

[250R-Dee]

I will measure the dogbones I have later. I assumed the '87 dogbone was the same length as the '86 since they use the same swingarm.

[Rich250RRacer]

87-89 dogbone are the same, 86 is longer. The 87 shock is shorter than the 86. The 88-89 is shorter than an 87. If you run the 87-89 linkage on an 86 shock, you will increase the ride height. If you run the 86 link on an 87-89 shock you will decrease the ride height.

[250R-Dee]

Thanks for posting the correct info Rich!

[EXtreme-]

Originally posted by Rich250RRacer
87-89 dogbone are the same, 86 is longer. The 87 shock is shorter than the 86. The 88-89 is shorter than an 87. If you run the 87-89 linkage on an 86 shock, you will increase the ride height. If you run the 86 link on an 87-89 shock you will decrease the ride height. with the steel swinger, which of the two years would/should be more a desirable setup?

[Rich250RRacer]

Depends on what ride height you want, but if you are going to run an unmodified stock shock, than you should go with the linkage that matches that shock since interchanging shocks and links will effect leverage ratio and the shock should be valved and sprung correctly for the set-up.